By Zoey Maraist
(OSV News) – The latest song from Catholic singer-songwriter Marie Miller is as easy to play as it is to drive a car with the windows rolled down. down.
To create “The Way of Love,” which was released on streaming platforms May 31, Miller said that he relied heavily on “the treasure chest of the church” to inspire his music. The resulting five-song extended play album is a prayerful collection. “Faith is the greatest gift I can give to anyone, and why ignore that?” he said.
Miller, 35, grew up on a vineyard in rural Virginia, not far from where he lives today in Rappahannock County, Virginia. He and his nine siblings played bluegrass music and attended Mass daily.
As a teenager, he signed with Curb Records, and his single “You’re Not Alone” reached No. 1 on Christian radio. Other high-profile projects include touring with Five For Fighting and playing in front of Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in 2015. “6’2,” a song about thinking about her husband in the future, was shown on the television show “Dancing with the Stars.” She’s been married for a year and a half; her husband is 6’4, she admits with a smile.
Although unabashed about his faith, for the most part Miller’s work has outgrown his music, he said. “I often write about experiences in my life, a lot of heartbreak songs, and this album doesn’t need me to trust myself and my life,” he told OSV News. “I am bringing out the beautiful words of the church, in a new and new way that people have not heard before and (hopefully) it will bring them closer to the Lord.”
At first, writing a very Catholic album was intimidating, Miller said. But when he watched the television show “The Chosen,” he was inspired by the way God used disciples to accomplish his mission. “I’m broken and I love (God) so much and that’s why I’m writing about it,” he said. “You don’t have to be a saint to tell the story of Jesus Christ, because he is the one who saves.”
Although the album was inspired by the life and works of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the themes of Miller’s songs range from Gospel stories to TS Eliot to hymns in the prayers of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
The song of the day, mandolin-tinged single, “The Way of Love,” is taken from a St. Thérèse of Lisieux – “Beautiful is the path of Love! One can fall, I know; there are arguments, but love knows how to turn everything into something useful, quickly consuming the everything that does not insult Jesus.
“Sweet Company,” a beautiful tribute to the power of religion, opens with the lyrics, “Out of the darkness of my life / So much anger and pain / I’ve got a soft red light / And wait me.” Christ’s Eucharistic presence was a constant in his many journeys, Miller said. “It’s a huge gift for me, not only where I am but where I am in life,” he said. “If I am going through a time of trial, a time of joy, confusion, he is always with us and we do not do it ourselves.”
“Woman,” a collaboration between Miller and songwriters Sarah Hart and Sarah Kroger, depicts Christ’s relationship with women through the experiences of Mary Magdalene, the woman captured in sex and women at the well. Miller sang the part of the woman at the well. “I’ve always loved the idea of Jesus thirsting for us,” he said. “(Jesus said to the woman), ‘Come for me to drink,’ this is a wonderful thing that I can bring to Jesus to satisfy his thirst.
Miller plans to play new songs in what he calls a musical showcase, a mix of original songs, hymns and praise and worship songs chosen to reflect an aspect of the spirit of St.
“I call him the guardian of this album,” says Miller. “He was with me when I was writing and I asked him to lead every song. He believed that everything you do is for love.
Although Miller believes that music can reach a wider audience, he says that his most important thing is to be faithful to God and do the little things with love. “The sweetest thing is when you make St. Thérèse your patron, then you put yourself in her hands,” he said. “I have played for many years, and I have walked many roads thinking that they will make me happy. The road of love is the only road that leads us to our hearts in the the deepest longing, union with God.
Zoey Maraist writes for OSV News from Virginia.
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